Identity Connect 2026 - IAM as the Digital Nervous System

During this event, IAM experts, security leaders and technology partners come together to explore how Identity & Access Management is evolving into the digital nervous system of the modern organization, the foundation of digital trust.

As organizations adopt cloud, AI and increasingly complex digital ecosystems, controlling identity has become one of the most critical challenges for security and IT leaders.

Alongside strategic insights, the event offers plenty of opportunities to exchange experiences with peers from the IAM community. And yes, you can hit some golf balls at the driving range!

Who Should Attend

This event is designed for professionals responsible for identity, security and digital transformation strategies, including: IAM Leaders, CISOs and Security Managers, IT Security Leaders and Digital Identity Specialists.

Join this network of IAM experts!

📍 Chi Chi The Golf Venue
📅 June 9th
🕒 12:30 - 18:00

This event has taken place, see you next year!

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"IAM as the digital nervous system is redefining how organizations operate. It is no longer just about managing users, but about controlling access across an increasingly complex landscape of people, machines, and AI. As the security perimeter dissolves, identity becomes the foundation of trust. Access is dynamic, continuous, and business-critical. IAM enables organizations to innovate with confidence. "

Jeroen Remie -
25+ years of IAM experience

With experts from

Es ist Ihre Sicherheitsarchitekur.
Welchen Strategie-Typ verfolgen Sie?

Unsere Experten analysieren Ihre Ausgangssituation und beraten Sie umfassend bei der Auswahl Ihrer Strategie.
Wir entwickeln gemeinsam mit Ihnen eine Sicherheitsarchitektur, die strategisch durchdacht ist, operativ überzeugt und Ihre individuellen Anforderungen erfüllt.

Innovation vor Souveränität

Sie setzen auf Tempo, Agilität und wirtschaftliche Effizienz. Anforderungen an die Souveränität werden bewusst gemanagt, stehen jedoch nicht im Vordergrund Ihrer Technologieauswahl.

Risiko & Hyperscaler

Sie verfolgen eine Strategie, die durch wiederkehrende Risiko- und Wirtschaftlichkeits-Analysen abgesichert ist. So schaffen Sie Skalierbarkeit, behalten aber gleichzeitig potenzielle Risiken strukturiert im Auge.

Multi-Cloud-Balance

Sie setzen auf Flexibilität und Wahlfreiheit über mehrere Anbieter hinweg. Diese Multi‑Cloud‑Orientierung ermöglicht Unabhängigkeit, erfordert jedoch technische Portabilität und klare Exit‑Strategien.

100% europäische Soveränität

Sie legen Wert auf europäische Dienste zur Stärkung von Compliance, Datenhoheit und regulatorischer Sicherheit. Diese Ausrichtung sorgt für Stabilität, muss aber kontinuierlich weiterentwickelt werden.

Maximale souveräne Kontrolle

Sie legen Wert auf größtmögliche Kontrolle: europäische Software‑Stacks, eigene Infrastruktur und ein hoher Grad an Unabhängigkeit. Dieses Modell bietet die weitreichendste Souveränität, braucht jedoch konsequente Pflege.

Speaker: Bjorn Hansen - Former IAM Leader at ASML & DSM

Delivering Successful IAM Programs

IAM programs are not merely technology projects. They are complex organizational transformations. Bjorn Hansen shares lessons learned from leading large IAM programs at ASML and DSM, where aligning business and IT proved to be one of the biggest challenges.

Drawing from real-world experience, he provides practical guidance on how to make IAM initiatives successful, even in complex enterprise environments.

Topics include:
• Why IAM initiatives often struggle to gain traction within organizations
• How to explain IAM in a way that resonates with business stakeholders and leadership
• Why people, processes and governance matter more than technology
• Practical do’s and don’ts for running successful IAM programs

A highly practical session focused on what actually works when implementing IAM at scale, and what to avoid.

Speaker: Luc Coenen - Program Manager Cloud, ASR

Cloud Transformation at ASR

Luc Coenen shares a pragmatic perspective on ASR’s cloud migration journey. As a large insurance company with a complex landscape, ASR is moving to the cloud while carefully weighing the impact on security, operations and existing systems.

Luc highlights the key considerations behind this decision and why the right approach depends on your organization’s starting point.

As part of this journey, IAM modernization became a logical step. Not as a goal, but as an enabler to reduce complexity and strengthen security.

Key takeaways include:
• Why your starting point (legacy, structure, risk) defines your IT strategy
• How IAM helps simplify and secure a fragmented landscape
• How to combine cloud migration with identity and security improvements
• How to communicate IAM and security decisions at board level

Speaker: Evert van den Branden - CEO SITS | Traxion

IAM as the Unified Trust Layer

In this keynote, Evert van den Branden shares his perspective on how Identity & Access Management is evolving from a supporting IT capability into a strategic control layer at the heart of the organization.

Building on the idea of IAM as the Digital Nervous System, he explores what this shift means in practice not just from a technology perspective, but from a broader business and risk standpoint.

As organizations accelerate their adoption of cloud, AI and digital ecosystems, identity is becoming the connecting layer between security, data and innovation. But many organizations still approach IAM in a fragmented way, focused on tools rather than strategy.

Speakers: Jeroen Remie (IGA), Robin Gaal (AM), Brian de Vries (PAM) – Principal Consultants, SITS | Traxion

Identity Trends Across the IAM Landscape

What is really happening in IAM today, beyond the hype? Three Principal Consultants highlight the key developments shaping the identity landscape and what organizations should focus on next. Rather than focusing only on AI, this session offers a realistic view of today’s challenges.

Topics include:
• The rise of non-human identities, APIs and AI agents, and the security impact
• Where AI adds value in IAM today
• Why organizations still struggle with identity governance
• The shift to just-in-time access and zero-standing privileges
• How to strengthen your IAM foundation without overengineering

Expect a practical perspective on IAM: not just where the market is going, but how to move from today’s reality to tomorrow’s ambitions.

Golf with IAM experts

This event takes place at ChiChi Utrecht – The Golf Venue, where we combine knowledge sharing with an interactive and informal setting.

Between sessions you will have the opportunity to step onto the driving range and hit golf balls together with peers from the IAM community. No worries, experience is not needed. Just give it a try.

At the different golf bays you can also connect with experts from IAM vendors:

SailPoint
Omada
Microsoft
CyberArk
Thales
Keyfactor

This provides a relaxed environment to exchange ideas, ask questions and discuss real-world identity challenges.

Impressions from last year